Health Library

Nicotine Addiction

(Tobacco Use Disorder; Smoking Addiction)

by Krisha McCoy, MS

En Español (Spanish Version)

Animation Movie Available Related Media: Choosing a Quitting Method

Definition

Nictotine addiction is when a person becomes dependent on nicotine. Being dependent means there is a physical change in how your body reacts to a substance. Your body will also have a reaction when you stop using the substance.

Nicotine can be found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, cigars, or pipes. Tobacco use is also associated with several serious health conditions, such as:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
Cancer, like cancers of the larynx (voice box), oral cavity, throat, esophagus, lung, and colon
Heart disease
Stroke
Dementia
Increased risk of stillbirth, infant death, low birth weight, miscarriage, premature delivery, or sudden infant death syndrome
Shorter life span
Problems if you have surgery

Throat Cancer

Nicotine addition can be treated, often with a combination of treatments.

Causes

Nicotine acts on the brain's chemistry. It creates feelings of pleasure. However, the effects go away within a few minutes. Users will need to continue using nicotine to keep the good feelings going. This cycle can lead to addiction.

Risk Factors

Anyone who uses nicotine products can become addicted to the substance.

Symptoms

Symptoms develop when nicotine is not being used, also known as withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal include:

Irritability
Craving
Nervousness
Headache
Thinking and attention problems
Trouble sleeping
Increased appetite

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical and smoking history. A physical exam will be done.

Breathing tests may also be done to see how well your lungs are working.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment may involve one or more therapies. Options include:

NRT relieves withdrawal symptoms. NRT products:

Nicotine gum
Lozenges
Nasal sprays
Patches
Inhalers

The chance of abusing these products is low since NRT does not create "feel good" feelings.

NRT may help you to:

Avoid smoking
Reduce the amount of tobacco you use
Quit and stay smoke-free

Behavioral therapies include:

Counseling
Group behavior therapy
Telephone quit lines, cell phone programs, and text messaging programs
Internet and computer-based programs
Self-help classes and manuals
Cognitive behavioral therapy

Some antidepressants and nicotine partial agonists may help you quit. Other medications may help ease withdrawal symptoms or block the effects of nicotine if you start smoking again.

Prevention

The best prevention is to never use tobacco products. Try to avoid places where people are smoking.

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org

American Lung Association

Freedom From Smoking

http://www.ffsonline.org

Smokefree

Telephone: 1-800-QUITNOW

http://www.smokefree.gov

Canadian Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.ca

The Lung Association

http://www.lung.ca

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Last reviewed February 2013 by Brain Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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